Beneath This Man (This Man 2)

‘That’s nice,’ I say without even acknowledging Jesse, turning my back on him to face my client instead. ‘Should we diarise our next meeting now?’ I feel ice cold air emanate from Jesse.

‘Yes, that would be good,’ Mikael says. ‘Does Friday afternoon suit? We can meet at Life and get a rough idea on quantities. Maybe I could buy you lunch?’ His eyebrows rise suggestively and while I know I shouldn’t be encouraging this sort of behaviour, I just can’t help myself.

‘Friday afternoon suits me fine and lunch would be lovely.’ I smile, but then feel Jesse’s warm, minty breath on the back of my neck. He’s standing pretty damn close for someone who supposedly doesn’t know me.

‘I’m sorry to interrupt,’ Jesse pipes up.

I freeze. Oh God, please don’t trample.

He grasps my shoulders, and I watch as Mikael frowns in confusion. He slowly turns me around until my stunned face is looking up at him. ‘Baby, have you forgotten that I’m taking you shopping?’

Oh f**king hell!

He really doesn’t have any regard or shame. He’s going to get me sacked. Mikael is going to be calling Patrick to complain, then Patrick is going find out about Jesse and I’m going to get sacked! I can’t even muster up the strength to fire him a disgusted look.

He is looking down at my dumbstruck face, his eyes twinkling. I have no idea what to do here.

‘I didn’t realise you knew each other.’ Mikael says in utter confusion.

He’s just introduced us and neither one of us informed him that we were already acquainted. Well, much more than acquainted. We are so much more than acquainted. He just called me baby, and he’s holding my shoulders firmly, and not in a professional capacity, whatsoever.

Jesse knocks Mikael out with a killer smile. ‘I was in the area and I knew the love of my life was here,’ he shrugs. ‘I thought I would slip in and get my fix. I’m not going to see her for another four hours.’ He bends down and brushes his lips over my ear. I’m totally speechless. ‘I missed you.’ he whispers.

Missed me? He left me a couple of hours ago. He’s trampling better than ever before. I want to thrust my leg forward and prompt him to piss all over it. The man is impossible, and I have just landed right on my arse after being shoved off Central Jesse Cloud Nine.

He turns me around so I’m facing Mikael and pulls my back to his chest, wrapping his arm around the tops of my shoulders and kissing my temple. This is so unprofessional. I want to die on the spot. I look up at Mikael and find him observing Jesse’s little trampling session thoughtfully.

‘I’m sorry, when you mentioned you were here to meet your girlfriend, I didn’t realise you were referring to Ava.’ Mikael says coolly.

‘Yes, isn’t she beautiful?’ He presses his lips to my temple again and inhales in my hair. ‘And all mine.’ he adds quietly, but loud enough for Mikael to hear.

I feel my face getting hotter by the second, my eyes darting everywhere except in Mikael’s direction. Is he trying to eliminate Mikael? He’s a client, not a threat. Not that Jesse knows of, anyway. God help me if he finds out about my dinner invitation.

My eyes land briefly on Mikael. He’s watching me carefully. I feel so uncomfortable.

‘Mr Ward, if I had an Ava, I’ve no doubt I would do exactly the same.’ He flashes me a smile, and I feel my face burning up further. ‘Perhaps Monday would be more suitable?’

I find my voice. ‘Of course, Monday will be fine.’ I try to subtly wriggle free of Jesse, but he has a firm hold of me, and I know that even the whole British army would struggle to prize me from his arms.

Mikael puts his hand out to me. ‘I’ll call you to arrange a time once I’ve checked my diary.’

I take his offering. I’m ending an important business meeting with a very important client and I’m completely coated in my neurotic, possessive control freak. I’m mortified. ‘I look forward to it.’ I say enthusiastically, earning myself a sharp little nudge in my back.

Is he winding me up?

Mikael exits the snug, and I notice him glancing over his shoulder as he leaves. I just about capture the thoughtful look on his pale face, and I can’t help but think that Jesse has just set a challenge for him. I could collapse with exasperation. I’m glad Jesse is behind me because he is the only thing holding me up.

I relax against him on a long sigh. ‘I can’t believe you just did that,’ I say quietly as I stare at nothing in particular. ‘You’ve just trampled my most important client.’

I’m swung around in his arms to find his face level with mine as he bends to accommodate the height difference between us. ‘Who is your most important client?’ he asks on a heavy furrowed brow.

I roll my eyes. ‘You’re my lover, who happens to be a client.’

‘I am more than your lover!’

Yes, okay. That was a little bit of an understatement. He is most certainly more than my lover. I look at the panicked face close to mine and curse myself for wanting to head straight to the hotel bar and down a large glass of wine. No, actually, make that a bottle.

I exhale in complete despair. ‘I need to get back to work.’ I turn away, but feel his hand clamp around my wrist, the usual heat his touch instigates ever present.

He walks around me so he is in front of me. He keeps hold of my wrist. ‘You did that on purpose.’ he says accusingly.

Yes, I did! Just like he rocked up to The Royal Park on purpose to hijack my meeting and for what purpose? I look up at him through the fog of tears glazing my eyes. ‘Why?’ I ask. It’s a simple question.